Mechanical movement.



A. F. VICTOR.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.11,1909.

976,953. Patented N0v.29, 1910.

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MEGHANIOAL MOVEMENT. v I APPLICATION FILED MAB. l1,'1909. 976,953.Patented Nov. 29, 1%10.

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ALEXANDER FERDINAND VICTOR, 0F TOLEDO, OHIO.

MECHANICAL MOVEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 29, 1910.

Application filed March 11, 1909. Serial No. 482,764.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALEXANDER F. VICTOR, a subject of the King ofSweden, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State ofOhio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in MechanicalMovements, of which the following is a clear, full, and exactdescription.

My invention relates to gearing for actuating the dasher orstirrer-shaft of washing machines, churns and similar mechanisms. Itsobject is to utilize the momentum of a balance or fly-wheel to assist inthe reversal or rotary reciprocal movement of the said stirrer shaft,and also to provide simple and effective means whereby the equilibriumof the tub or machine is positively secured. I accomplish this in asimple and eflicient manner by the novel means hereinafter fullydescribed, and as more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical side elevation of a washingmachine, showing my improvement applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a verticalside elevation of the same looking at the machine in a plane atrightangles to that in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a bottom plan view of a tubshowing the manner of applying my improvements thereto and illustratingin detail the supporting bracket for the speed-increasing gearing. Fig.4 is a vertical side elevation, similar to Fig. 1 of a modifiedconstruction of my elevation.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a suitable tub that ispreferably provided with four equi-distant legs or other supports a onwhich the tub body is elevated a suitable distance above the floor. Thetub is preferably provided with the usual twopart top or cover thesmaller segment of which is permanently secured to said tub and theremaining larger portion hinged to said smaller portion and forms a lidon which a portion of the reversing mechanism is adapted to be mountedin a supporting frame 6. At the center of this top are suit ablebearings in the frame Z) which the agitator or stirrer shaft a isjournaled in such manner that it has free longitudinal movement as wellas having a rotary reciprocal movement therein. The upper end of thisshaft on extends through its bearings and is provided with ahorizontally disposed bevel-gear B, that meshes with a verticallydisposed bevel-gear C secured on the adjacent end of a horizontal shaft0 extending radially from said vertical shaft or agitator across the topof the tub and projecting a slight distance beyond its bearing in theouter end of the frame 2'). At its outer end this horizontal shaft 0 isprovided with a pinion D that is adapted to engage a segmental rack dmounted on a suitable pivotal stud projecting from a screw-plate securedconveniently to the side of the tub. The converging arms of thesegmental rack merge into and form an upwardly projecting socket that isadapted to removably receive the lower end of an operating lever F. Itwill be seen that, by moving said lever backward and forward, a rotaryreciprocal movement is given to the horizontal shaft 0, that istransmitted through gears B and C to the stirrer or dasher shaft (2'.This arrangement of the rack and pinion also permits the lid of the tubto be readily raised or closed by the operator without necessitating thelifting of all of the operating mechanism as is so often the case.

The pivotal boss of the segmental rack is preferably provided with anarm f projecting laterally therefrom in a plane tangential to thecircumference of the tub, and preferably in a horizontal plane. Theouter end of this arm is connected by a pitman G with the end of a crankg on the end of a horizontally disposed continuously revoluble shaft IIthat is mounted below the horizontal plane of the bottom of the tub. Thebearings for this shaft H preferably comprise studs h, h, arising from asuitable horizontally disposed supporting-plate or brace I. This braceis preferably provided with four segmentally curved arms 2', i, and i,i, the outer ends of each of which is suitably connected and secured toone of the legs of the tub substantially in the manner shown in thebottom plan view (Fig. 3). The ends of arms 2', i, are connected by thewebbing of a horizontally disposed bar as, which, at about its center oflength, is provided with a bearing stud 71, for the outer end of theshaft 1-1. At the point where these arms merge together, preferably atthe center of the bottom of the tub, is a suitable boss that is providedwith two bearings at right-angles to each other. Bearing J, which is thelonger of the two, preferably acts as the journal for an elongated shaftj that extends through the same and out beyond the vertical plane of theside of the tub. The shorter bearing acts as the journal iio for theinner end of the shaft H, which, near said bearing boss, is providedwith a large bevel-gear K secured fast thereon. On each side of itscentral bearing shaft j is adapted to carry a bevel pinion 7a and thatis smaller than and adapted to mesh with and be driven by said gear K.Mounted. 'on the outer ends ofshaft j are suitable fly-wheels L L.

In order that the fiy-wheel L may be revolved in the opposite directionfrom the shaft 7', I mount said fly-wheel L and the bevel pinion 70 on alongitudinally elongated sleeve Z that preferably entirely surroundssaid shaft 7' from its central bearing to the outer end adjacent to thefly-wheel L. By this construction the two fly-wheels are adapted to berapidly turned or speeded in the opposite directions thus insuring theequilibrium of the tub at all times, and cause thesaid fly-wheels to actwith a gyroscopic effect to prevent the accidental over-turning of saidtub.

In Fig. 4 of the drawings I show a slightly modified constructionwherein the balancewheel shaft 2 is shortened as shown in order that thebalance wheels 3, 3, will be disposed beneath the tub within tl ecircumference of the bottom of the same. i

In order to assist in'the operation of the mechanism hereinbeforedescribed it might be found desirable to operate the mechanism by footpower and to do this I connect the crank g by means of a link 4 with asuitable foot-treadle 5 and mount the pivoted end of the latter on ahorizontal stud projecting laterally from a screw-plate 6 that issecured to an adjacent leg of the tub substantially as shown.

In this modified machine the construction of all the other operatingparts are substantially the same as those described and shown inconnection with the preferred form of my invention, excepting as relatesto the balance-Wheelshaft and treadle.

What I claim as new is 1. Means for operating a washing machinecomprising a vertically disposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a verticallever, means connected thereto above its fulcrum for actuating. saidshaft, two balance-wheels mounted upon a common shaft, and meansincluding speed-increasing mechanism connected to said lever below itsfulcrum for revolving said balance-wheels in opposite directions.

2. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary re ciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, balance wheels mounted onopposite ends of the same,

'crum for revolving said balance-wheels in opposite directions.

3. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary re- .ciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve on one end of saidhorizontal shaft, a balancewheel on the outer end of said sleeve, and abalance-wheel on the opposite end of said shaft and adapted to revolvein the opposite direction to the balance-wheel'on the end of saidsleeve.

4. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, :1 vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve on one end of saidhorizontal shaft, a balance wheel on the outer end of said sleeve, abalance-wheel mounted on the opposite end of said shaft, and meansconnected to said lever below its fulcrum for revolving said balancewheels.

Means for operating a washing machine comprising a vertically disposedrotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connected thereto aboveits fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontally disposed shaftbelow said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve on one end of said horizontalshaft, :1 balancewheel on the outer end of said sleeve, a balance-wheelmounted on the opposite end of said shaft, and means connected to saidlever below its fulcrum for revolving said balance wheels in oppositedirections.

6. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a suitable support in which said shaftis journaled and provided with legs, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed spider-frame below said reciprocal shaft and connecting thelegs of said support, a horizontally disposed shaft having its bearingsin said support, balance wheels mounted on opposite ends of the same,and means connected to said lever below its fulcrum for revolving saidbalancewheels in opposite directions.

7. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, balance wheels mounted onopposite ends of the same, a rotatable shaft connected at one end tosaid lever and means including speed-increasing mechanism at itsopposite end for revolving said first-mentioned horizontal shaft.

8. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, balance wheels mounted onopposite ends of the same, a rotatable shaft connected at its outer endto said lever and a pinion on its opposite end, and speedincreasinggears on said first-mentioned horizontal shaft meshing with said pinionand adapted to revolve said balance wheels.

9. Means for operating a washing ma chine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, balancewheels mounted on theopposite ends of the same, a rotatable shaft connected at its outer endto said lever and a pinion on its opposite end, and speed-increasinggears on said first-mentioned horizontal shaft meshing with said pinionand adapted to revolve said balance-wheels in opposite directions.

10. Means for operating a washing ma chine comprising a verticallydisposed ro-.

tary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connected thereto aboveits fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontally disposed shaftbelow said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve loose on one end of saidhorizontal shaft, balance wheels mounted on said shaft and sleeve, and arotatable shaft connected at one end to said lever and means at itsopposite end for revolving said first-mentioned horizontal shaft andsleeve in opposite directions.

11. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve loose on one end ofsaid horizontal shaft, balance-wheels mounted on said horizontal shaftand sleeve, a rotatable shaft connected at one end to said. lever, andspeed-increasing means interposed between the end of said lastmentionedrotatable shaft and said first-mentioned horizontal shaft and sleevetions.

12. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a verticallydisposed ro-.

tary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connected thereto aboveits fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontally disposed shaftbelowsaid reciprocal shaft, a sleeve loose on one end of said horizontalshaft, balance-wheels mounted on said horizontal shaft and sleeve, smallpinions mounted on the inner end of said sleeve and the adjacent portionof said first-mentioned horizontal shaft, and a large gear mounted onthe end of said last-mentioned horizontal shaft and engaging saidpinions.

13. Means for operating a washing ma chine comprising a verticallydisposed rotary reciprocal shaft, a vertical lever, means connectedthereto above its fulcrum for actuating said shaft, a horizontallydisposed shaft below said reciprocal shaft, a sleeve loose on one end ofsaid horizontal shaft, balance-wheels mounted on said horizontal shaftand sleeve, small pinions mounted on the inner end of said sleeve andthe adjacent portion of said first-mentioned horizontal shaft, and alarge gear mounted on the end of said last-mentioned horizontal shaftand adapted to engage said pinions and revolve said balance-wheels inopposite directions.

14:. Means for operating a washing machine comprising a suitablesupport, a vertically disposed rotary reciprocal shaft journaled in thesame, a horizontally disposed rotary reciprocal shaft, means operativelyconnecting the said shafts, a lever connected above its fulcrum to saidhorizontal shaft, balance-wheels below said reciprocal shafts andrevoluble in opposite directions, and means including speed-increasingmechanism below the fulcrum of said lever for operatively connectingsaid lever and said balance-wheels.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 20th day ofFebruary, 1909.

ALEXANDER FERDINAND VICTOR.

\Vitnesses J. Lans HorTRUP, F. H. GHATFIELD.

